This blog serves to conclude my three part New Zealand overview by offering an all-inclusive packing list for a weeklong trip in New Zealand. This could also be used for other similar length trips. My list includes things I packed as well as things I wished I packed and is specifically catered to a campervan. If you were to stay in hostels this list would be very different. Although it is quite easy to buy anything you forgot on the road, it is important to pack smartly to minimize stress and maximize fun! I tried to pack lightly to make travel and packing the car easier.
General (Items you need to bring and should always have close by):
- Passport or copy of your passport
- Vehicle registration
- Driver’s License
- Phone and car charger
- Tom-Tom or similar GPS navigation system (you likely will not have service in NZ)
- Printed trip itinerary
- Money/Currency
- Small travel blanket
- Travel pillow (nice for long naps on the road)
- Journal and pens (useful to record everything you’ve done)
- Personal blanket and pillow. I didn’t bring this but the blankets and pillows provided by the camper van company were not that comfortable.
- Ferry pass from the North Island to the South Island. You can purchase this with the camper van, which is the cheapest option we found.
Toiletries
- Bar of soap
- Travel size shampoo and conditioner
- Hand soap or hand sanitizer
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Contact lens/eyeglasses
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Medical kit (hopefully you won’t have to use this but bandaids did come in handy)
- Toilet paper rolls
- Quick dry towel
- Normal bath towel
- Sun glasses
Clothing (It was a lot colder than I planned for so pack extra layers)
- 4 T-shirts
- 4 long sleeve t-shirts
- 3 pairs normal socks
- 3 pairs warm or thermal socks
- 8 pairs of underwear
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 2 pairs of sweatpants
- 1 pair of jeans
- 2 sweatshirts
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 fleece sweater
- 1 swim suit
- 1 baseball hat
- Running shoes
- Hiking shoes or boots (you will do a lot of hiking in NZ and good shoes are essential)
- Flip flops (these were nice to wear around the campsite)
Kitchen Equipment (most vans come stocked with utensils, pots, pans, cups, plates, spatula, and a strainer but we added some items along the way)
- Cooking spray
- Napkins
- Lighter for propane stove
- Sandwich Bags
- Salt and Pepper
- Sponge for dishes
- Dish towel or paper towels
- Clothes hanger to dry towels
- Sanitary wipes
Food Items (these meals and snacks are easy to cook and relatively inexpensive)
- Bread
- Peanut butter and jelly (an essential)
- Eggs (easy to make and inexpensive meal)
- Pasta and sauce
- Granola bars
- Fruit (bananas, apples, and oranges are all good – kiwi is also extremely cheap and delicious in New Zealand)
- Bagels
- Coffee (we bought insta-coffee so all we needed to add was hot water)
- 5 Liter Water jugs (an essential to have in the van and easy to refill at most camping sites)
- Refillable water bottle
- Baked beans
- Canned tuna
- Chips or other snacks for the road
- Mixed nuts
- Canned soup
- Chocolate or other candy
Electronics
- Camera or Go Pro
- Car charger
- External battery (I used this a lot as the van only had one car charger)
- Head phones
- Flashlight (useful to have around camp at night)
- Phone
Miscellaneous
- 1 or more books (reading was a great way to pass time and relax by a nice view)
- Cards (great to play when relaxing at night)
- Ear plugs (especially if your friend snores)
- Small back pack for day trips or hikes
- Swiss army knife
- Duct tape for any quick fix
- Knowledge of how to fix a flat tire
- Playlist
I hope that this blog provides an inclusive list of essentials required for a successful campervan trip across New Zealand. I used everything that I brought and we were able to make it through the week without paying too much for food. Some recommendations I have are to pack extra layers, be prepared to go a few days without showering (although bathing in the freezing cold lakes was exhilarating), have a basic knowledge of New Zealand laws and road rules, and always drive on the left side of the road. Getting use to driving is difficult at first, but after a few miles it is easy to adjust. The most useful item the entire trip was our Tom-Tom, which served as our guiding light through the isolated roads that meander through New Zealand. Without a navigation system, this trip would be very difficult as most of the country does not have adequate cell coverage. All in all, the above list should serve as an incredibly useful and comprehensive guide to your stay around New Zealand. In all likelihood, you will return from your adventure with more items than you started with but it evens out since things tend to get lost when travelling on the road for 10 days. However, one thing that you will return with undoubtedly is the memory of a road trip of a lifetime, a desire sought by many. The concept of a road trip has since grown out of style from earlier generations. A couple of decades ago, packing up all of your belongings and just leaving town was a much more popular excursion than it is today. Great men like Jack Kerouac popularized this and frankly it is in desperate need of a resurgence. On the road you learn more than just about the surrounding area. At one point or another you will come across strange sights or difficulties that test your knowledge and ability to be self-reliant. It is here that you learn how comfortable and safe modern life has made the average citizen. However, when you strip down to the essentials and venture into a place you have never been accompanied by only your friends and a van, it’s easier to gain insight into what you really value most.
